Nissan Leaf redux

A look at new features, including a photovoltaic charging panel, and cold-weather performance.

Last year I had a week's worth of driving in a Nissan Leaf electric car (reported here: Culture shock: Driving an electric car), and recently the latest production version was at hand for a spin.

For my original drive, the Leaf was a preproduction version, so I was eager to see if there were any noticeable differences between the two. In a nutshell, no—Nissan had the car where it wanted early on.

The 2012 SL model of the Leaf does come with several new features: A battery heater, heated mirrors and steering wheel, front and rear heated seats, and a rear seat HVAC duct. Nissan says most of these are geared to being more efficient in warming the cabin's occupants than by mainly using the HVAC system.

For the more technology inclined, the car has a quick charge port under the nose door, next to the standard charger coupling, which can give an 80% charge in 30 minutes—great if the restaurant or barber shop you drive to has such a station nearby. A small photovoltaic panel in the rear spoiler (see below) also helps charge the 12V battery used for conventional electronics, such as the audio system and body electronics.

On the road, I was somewhat able to gauge performance in colder weather than experienced on my test drive last year. Starting with a fully charged battery, the energy management display told me I had 101 miles range. Outside air temperature (OAT) was 42F, so I set the climate control to 70F. After driving 7.2 miles, the displayed range was now 82 mi—for an 11.8 mi. loss in range caused by heating needs. The return trip was at night with lights on and OAT = 40F. I set the heat for 71F. At the end of the 14.4 mi roundtrip, range was now given as 65 mi—for a total loss of range of 21.6 mi. Thus heating needs under moderately cold conditions consumed more energy than traveling—indicating Leaf drivers in cold climates have to plan with care if they are ranging moderate distances from home.

The 2012 Leaf SL I drove had only one option, $170 floor and trunk mats. With a $850 destination charge, total MSRP was $38,270—but it should be remembered, in the U.S. there is currently a $7,500 government rebate for buyers of plug-in vehicles.

(As an aside, because I have driven both, people have asked which I prefer, the Leaf or the Chevy Volt (Driving impressions: Chevy Volt). Considering the Volt's cost, before rebate of $40,000 (not much more than the Leaf) I personally would select it over the Leaf because it gives me the option of taking a long trip, thanks to its gas engine which kicks in after 40 miles or so of driving to function as a hybrid—thus no range anxiety.)

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"although military tested first electric plane and.....ALL DRONES are electric.Hmmmm...how those turtles make it to Iran and take pictures , not even talking about carrying heavy missles"
Drones don't carry passengers nor do they make trans-Atlantic flights. Most turbine aircraft can't even cold-start on battery power without an APU or power cart.
If an electric car could be produced at the sales price of a Camry, have a 300-400 mile range and be re-charged in 3-5 minutes it would sell very well.
Based on Leaf technology the batteries would have to have 3-4 times the storage density and 10 times the charging current.
As mentioned in one of the articles batteries aren't following Moore's Law and may never.

All good points and I understand your position toward electric cars.As far as prices od electricity they are lower at night , about half the price, just like interruptable A/C dedicated line.I recommend that you rent a movie "Who Killed Electric Car".It is about an awesome care that GM used to produce.They did not sell them though , but leased them.Last owners tried to keep them and were forced to give them up.It was really a hi-tech car , but due to a conspiracy all of them were destroyed WITHOUT giving any reason.As far as turtles go electric cars are much faster than their gasoline counterpart.Tesla is the fastest car on Earth.Time to get into some reading about real world.Boeing 757 is fine the way it is.Eficciency of batteries are not enough , although military tested first electric plane and.....ALL DRONES are electric.Hmmmm...how those turtles make it to Iran and take pictures , not even talking about carrying heavy missles.I sense that you are a mechanical engineer? I am EE so, we will never meet in the middle.We all have different tastes and I do not want to influence , or offend anyone.Thank you for an interesting discussion.

Some of my quotes are from actual owners. Others are from industry trades similar to this one. I suppose that actual Leaf owners are somehow not qualified to comment...only Leaf's cheerleaders.
No one is making me buy a Leaf yet, but with a $7500 federal tax subsidy they are making me - and everyone else her who pays US Federal Income Tax and our indebted children buy yours.
Eventually, due to CAFE standards, we will all be forced into limited range turtles.
The reason most electric cars exist is due to government mandate. It's obviously not market-driven or they wouldn't have to give money away to get you into one.
From Design News: "Cole argues that the auto industry knew that EVs and plug-in hybrids would have a slow uptake, but says that many executives were swept up in an electric vehicle euphoria that wasn't grounded in reality."
What I'm suggesting is that everyone stay grounded in reality, not euphoria.
All of those electricity-hogging Leafs (and Volts) will drive up electric rates.
If you want to drive a car that's going to conk out on you be my guest. And if you want your car to be your master go for it. For me, I'm seeing potential growth in towing "bricked" electric cars.
Horses may soon be more attractive as well since they have a longer range and less fuel cost.
Eventually a battery will be developed that has the energy density of gasoline and a 5 minute recharge. But the future is not here today.
I ask again: When will we see an all-electric Boeing 757?

Hi Rick,
Thank you! For a while it was gone and I thought that I got too rough.....It is a fact that often people don't know a good thing when they see it.I drove Leaf in Texas and it was great.A lot of engineers work on novelties and I don't mean Mp3 players...I mean really cool stuff,like electric car, solar power ,paper made without use of wood and many innovative sources of energy.Are there growing pains? Sure, who could have ever avoided them.We need to be positive and see a bright , not smog dimmed future.Thank you for your explanation.

My previous reply was censored and removed.I just wanted to ask you to let peopole have their own opinion and PLEASE do not play government.We want to buy what we want.It does not matter that you have to like it.Progress withh prevail anyhow.There is NO WAY to stop electric cars.This is a future.So peace Mr Mediatechnology.Go with technology and forget media!

Too bad that you are not a propeller head ,but a "repeater"of what media says.I understand media part of your name, but where did you come up with technology?NOBODY is trying to make YOU buy a LEAF. We (engineers) just express our opinions and there is no need to fight with those who like progress.Your oil stocks will tank anyhow , be it sooner, or later.By the way...don't use anything battery operated(FLASHLIGHT) - it just does not work.Candles(PETROLEUM PRODUCT) are more dependant - that is , if you have matches or a lighter.